Two contrasting approaches to the dissemination of information could be found in the approaches of our last two Online Journalism guest lecturers.
In the Red Corner we have Iain Dale, blogger extraordinaire and Online Broadcasting pioneer, whose approach can be encapsulated in the phrase "I don't think, therefore I blog". He posts updates to his blog several times a day, which apparently takes him less than an hour to write. His approach is immediate, reactionary, interactive.
In the Blue Corner is Richard Burton, erstwhile editor of the Online Telegraph. He too believes in the power of Blogging and user-generated content. The Telegraph was a pioneer in web journalism, as well as one of the first news sites to turn a profit. But he thinks that people should refrain from comment on matters they know nothing about, emphasised the importance of subject matter expertise, and - if I may read between the lines of his argument a little - seemed to view much of the Blogosphere as a morass of impotent opinions being ejaculated into cyberspace.
Perhaps that was reading between the lines a bit too much. But his comments resonate with Will Self's view that in a world where writers outnumber readers, not everyone can or should be allowed a platform. Burton gave the example of his Paris correspondent as an example of what a Blog should be: well-written articles about lives less ordinary.
In the Red Corner we have Iain Dale, blogger extraordinaire and Online Broadcasting pioneer, whose approach can be encapsulated in the phrase "I don't think, therefore I blog". He posts updates to his blog several times a day, which apparently takes him less than an hour to write. His approach is immediate, reactionary, interactive.
In the Blue Corner is Richard Burton, erstwhile editor of the Online Telegraph. He too believes in the power of Blogging and user-generated content. The Telegraph was a pioneer in web journalism, as well as one of the first news sites to turn a profit. But he thinks that people should refrain from comment on matters they know nothing about, emphasised the importance of subject matter expertise, and - if I may read between the lines of his argument a little - seemed to view much of the Blogosphere as a morass of impotent opinions being ejaculated into cyberspace.
Perhaps that was reading between the lines a bit too much. But his comments resonate with Will Self's view that in a world where writers outnumber readers, not everyone can or should be allowed a platform. Burton gave the example of his Paris correspondent as an example of what a Blog should be: well-written articles about lives less ordinary.
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